$45 nonrefundable application fee (not required of students previously admitted to a graduate program at Azusa Pacific)

Official transcripts (PDF) from all institutions leading to, and awarding, the applicant's baccalaureate degree and all post-baccalaureate study (This is not required of students for whom Azusa Pacific already has such records. To be considered official, a transcript must come directly from the Office of the Registrar of the school attended to the Graduate and Professional Center at Azusa Pacific University. Applicant-sealed copies will not be considered official.)

A master's degree in education or a closely related field from a regionally accredited institution

Minimum graduate GPA of 3.5 on a 4-point scale

Three letters of recommendation (PDF) on APU forms, two completed by individuals who have supervised the applicant and all from persons who can attest to the applicant’s potential for doctoral study and leadership

Evidence of five years of relevant professional experience (PDF) (Applicants who lack appropriate experience but meet the other admissions criteria may be admitted provisionally and, subsequently, complete experiences to broaden their base of practical experience.)

A current professional résumé

A Statement of Intent. This should be a double-spaced paper, five to seven pages in length, that details the applicant's (a) educational goals, (b) short- and long-term professional goals, (c) professional activities, (d) research interests to be pursued in the program, and (e) reasons for choosing the APU doctoral program.

A writing sample that demonstrates the applicant’s ability to write cogently and use research and professional literature effectively in developing ideas and arguments (e.g., a master’s thesis, a scholarly article published in a journal, a comprehensive course paper, or a major district report)

Results of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) taken within the last five years should be sent directly from the testing agency to the Graduate and Professional Center. While an applicant’s entire application is considered as a whole, scores of 152 or higher on both the verbal and quantitative reasoning plus an analytical writing score of 4.5 have been predictive of success in the program.

A valid California Certificate of Clearance (A copy of a valid California credential may be used in lieu of a certificate.)

Admission Requirements—International Applicants

Azusa Pacific University is authorized under federal law by the U.S. CIS and the U.S. Department of State to enroll nonimmigrant, alien undergraduate and graduate students. APU issues and administers both the I-20 and DS 2019 (F-1 and J-1 status documents respectively).

To apply for a graduate program at APU, the following requirements must be fulfilled in addition to meeting the domestic applicant and program-specific admission requirements specified by the program.

International applicants must:

Meet all standard admission requirements above
International applicants must fulfill the domestic applicant and program-specific admission requirements specified above in addition to meeting the following criteria.

International applicants must also submit:

An International Graduate Application
(Apply Online | Download PDF)
Note: This application should be used instead of the domestic graduate application.

A $65 (U.S.) nonrefundable application fee
Note: This fee is submitted in place of the $45 nonrefundable application fee for domestic applicants.

Official transcripts
Request that official transcripts be sent to APU’s International Center for all degrees, certificates, and credentials earned prior to application to APU. Read more about APU’s international applicant transcript policy.

Proof of English Proficiency
Request that official TOEFL/IELTS test scores be sent directly to APU. Any other forms of proof indicated in the university’s English Proficiency Requirements must be submitted directly to the International Center. Applicants applying for conditional admission through ALCI must submit an ALCI application (PDF). For more information, read our English Proficiency Requirements for Graduate and Doctoral Programs.

An affidavit of financial support and a bank statement
International applicants must provide an affidavit of support and a bank statement proving financial ability to pay for educational costs through personal, family, or sponsor resources.

A copy of a valid passport

A résumé showing work experience
International applicants must submit a current résumé or curriculum vitae (CV) that demonstrates recent work experience.

Three recommendations
Two from academic and/or professional sources, and one from a personal source (no family members). All recommendations must use the APU Graduate Recommendation Form (PDF).

Submit all materials to:

What to Expect

After the International Center receives all admission materials, a committee of department faculty review the applicant’s file. The applicant is then notified of the committee's decision.

Application Deadlines

Completed applications with all supporting documentation must be received by June 1 for September admission into the Doctor of Education program and November 1 for January admission.

Interview

Upon invitation, doctoral applicants interview with at least two members of the doctoral faculty. The purpose of the interview is to meet the applicant, discuss educational and career goals, evaluate the match of the program to the applicant, and determine the applicant’s potential for success in the program.

Computer Requirement

Students must own or have ready access to a computer during their tenure in the program. The SPSS statistical software package is required of students in their research courses throughout the program. The University Bookstore makes arrangements to enable students to purchase computers and software at economical rates on convenient terms. Often, the required purchase of the laptop and software can be budgeted into student loans. For further information, please contact the Office of Graduate Student Financial Services in the Graduate and Professional Center at (626) 815-4570.

Note: This information is current for the 2014–15 academic year; however, all stated academic information is subject to change. Please refer to the current Academic Catalog for more information.